Over the last two years I have been watching with increasing incredulity as the number of wind farm proposals in rural Wales has grown out of all proportion to what might be needed in the future.

I had assumed that at some point our government, Welsh Government, would take control and say NO. Surely, I thought, they must realise what is at stake here – the desecration of the Heart of Wales which means so much to us all, and to the people who visit us here.

But then I was reminded of the ‘Hendy’ wind farm, not far from where I live. The first time I saw it I was horrified. The turbines appear totally alien in an otherwise beautiful, tranquil setting. Then I learned of the extreme local opposition to this development and that the planning application was rejected. However, despite this rejection being upheld by the Welsh Government’s Planning Inspectorate (following an appeal by the developer) Lesley Griffiths, then Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs Secretary for the Welsh Government, said she would ignore the planning inspector’s decision and allow ‘Hendy’ wind farm to proceed.

That was nearly six years ago. Current proposals at many other environmentally sensitive locations are for turbines of 200 – 220m height. Twice the height of those at Hendy. Over 700 feet – half as tall again as the Blackpool tower! These things are monstrous and have previously only been used off shore. On shore they would be grossly out of scale with the surroundings. The developer’svisualisations do not convey this, and even now very few people grasp the full impact these developments would have on our beautiful countryside.

It is not just visual impact – the local environment would be adversely affected in every way. This is not ‘clean, green energy’ – the CO₂ liberated in their construction would take many years to pay back if all processes and transportation are accounted for.

Wind energy is intermittent, and unreliable. In the absence of adequate storage provision (not currently available) reversion to traditional forms of power generation is often necessary. If you want to understand this, search for ‘energy constraint payments’ – you will be shocked. These, and the UK Government’s ‘Contracts for Difference’, are why our electrical energy bills are so high. We are in effect being taxed by stealth to fund renewable energy.

So I am asking every one of you to please visit the ReThink Wales website: www.rethink.wales

Support them if you can – they are working voluntarily for us all. Here you will be fully informed of the developer’s intentions. And then please tell your family, friends, and everyone you meet about these monstrous proposals to change our countryside as we know it by turning our rural landscape into industrial power facilities.

Energy developed by large scale wind and solar installations would not be for local people. It would be transmitted, wastefully, many miles away to where needed. Who would benefit? Only the developers and their foreign investors.

Please tell Welsh Government exactly how you feel.